The West is using information warfare to destroy cultural and worldview spheres of life in Russia and Belarus. It is the war for consciousness. The purpose is to re-format the consciousness of the people of Russia and Belarus according to the matrix from Washington and Brussels.
Summary
The issue of Crimea's affiliation was decided by the people of the peninsula when they voted in favour of returning to Russia.
It is worth mentioning that Crimea became a federal Russian territory after a referendum that took place on 16 March 2014 in the Crimea and Sevastopol, and both regions became part of the Russian Federation as of 18 March 2014.
Disproof
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the illegal annexation of Crimea. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.
No international body recognises the so-called referendum in Crimea. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Territorial integrity of Ukraine”, stating that the referendum in Crimea was not valid and could not serve as a basis for any change in the status of the peninsula. On 17 December 2018, the UN General Assembly confirmed its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea.
Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, recognised on 17 April 2015 that "our soldiers were deployed in Crimea to help the inhabitants express their opinion." Vladimir Putin admitted (proudly) that the plan to annex Crimea was ordered weeks before the so-called referendum and engaged the regular armed forces of Russia.
The European Union does not recognise and continues to strongly condemn this violation of international law, which remains a challenge to the international security order. In response to the illegal annexation of Crimea, the EU has imposed restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. In June 2021, the European Council decided to renew the sanctions introduced in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation until 23 June 2022.
See related disinformation claims alleging that Crimea has never been Ukraine; that Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum; that Crimea "sailed" to Russia forever and the West agrees with it; that seven years ago, Crimea became part of Russia after the referendum.